Means for detonating dynamite and other explosives.



P. WELLS & G. E. PQTTS. MEANS FOB DETORATING DYNAMITE AND GTE'BB EIPLOBIVEB. nrucunox mum JULY 10,1008.

918,907, Patented A rl 20, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK WELLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND GEORGE E. POTTS, OF POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE POTTS POWDER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR DETONATING DYNAMITE AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Application filed July 16, 1908. Serial No. 443,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK WELLS, a. resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Gnonen E. Io'r'rs, a resident of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, both citizens of the United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Detonating Dynamite and other Explosives, of which the following is a specification illustrated by drawings.

The invention is designed riniarily as a simple and improved means or detonating cartridges of dynamite or other ex losive after the same have been inserted in t e bed of coal or other body to be blasted by means of the usual bore hole and suitably tam )ed. By describing the invention as applicab e to coal, its applicability to analogous uses will be readily understood.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a cross section of the bore hole with the cartridge in place and a blasting barrel inserted in the ore hole and surrounded by the tamping, it being understood that on account of the relatlvel great length of the bore hole an interme iate portion of the same has been omitted from the view. Fig. 2 shows partly in section the detonating cap and squib secured together. Fig. 3 shows a modification of the combined detonating cap and squib. Fig. 4 is a cross section similar to Fig. 1, to show use with a ta ered hole in the tamping instead of the blasting barrel.

In Fig. 1 the cartridge 0 is shown in place at the inner end of the bore hole in the vein of coal B. At D is the tamping surrounding the blasting barrel F of usual construction which has preferably been drawn back from the cartridge an inch or two at its inner end so that the explosion of the dctonating cap will not injure it.

At G (Figs. 1 and 2) is shown a detonatin cap in the rear end of which is inserted and secured by cementing at g or otherwise a squib H of suflicient strength and ower to insure its being able to carry and rive the cap before it throughout the length of the blasting barrel and into contact with the cartridge before the squib is completely burned and the fire reaches the ca The squib with the attached ca forms a etonating squib which is place in the mouth of the blasting barrel, as shown in Fig. 1, and is i then ignited, the squib reacting upon the air is driven through. the barrel carrying the detonating cap with it into contact with the cartridge. Upon the explosion of the detonating cap the cartridge is thereby detonated or exploded, as will be well understood.

In Fig. 3 a modified construction of the combined squib and cap is shown in which the cap, which may be the usual construction of cap, is inserted within and held by an outer casing h of the squib H and may be used in the same way as just described.

In Fig. 4 a tapered hole in the tamping, which may be made by a ta ierin rod, is substituted for the blasting barre of Fig. 1. The making and use of such ti )ered holes is, of course, well understood, and the detonating squib may be driven throu h such hole inlthe same way as through the %lasting barre It will be seen that the invention is of very simple nature and that it obviates the necessity of using a long fixed fuse extending to a detonating cap placed at the cartridge. The squib serves not only to carry fire, but also to force the detonating cap through the tubular opening in the blasting barrel or in the tamping and into contact with the cartridge. The squib is of such proportions that the cap is driven into contact with the cartridge be fore the squib is completely burned, the continued. burning of the squib finally causing the fire to reach the cap, which then detonates and in turn detonates the dynamite.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. In combination, an explosive cartridge embedded in the coal or body to be blasted, a passageway leading thereto and a combined dctonating cap an squib adapted upon ignition to be driven, carrying the detonating cap with it, to the charge to be exploded.

2. In combination as a means for detonating an explosive char e, a detonating cap and a squ1b carrying t 1e said cap the squi 1 adapted upon ignition to be driven, carrying the detonating cap with it, to the charge to be exploded.

3. detonating squib comprising a squib proper and a detonating cap secured at the ront end thereof, the squib adapted upon ignition to be driven, carrying the detonating in testimony whereof we have signed this cup with it, to the charge to be exploded. Specification in the )resence of two suh- 1O 4. A detonuting squib comprising a squib scribing witnesses, J ui y 10, 1908.

proper and a, detonating cap which receives FRANK WELLS.

and is secured to the forward end of the GEORGE E. POT'IS.

squib, the squib adapted upon ignition to be Witnesses:

driven, carrying the detonating cap with it, WALTER I. HAHN,

to the charge to be exploded. FRANK LITTLE. 

